Joseph Ernest Hardiman, 69, of Lexington, Tennessee, went home to be with the Lord on July 12, 2026
surrounded by three of his children.
Joseph was born in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up with his parents and two sisters in Randolph,
Massachusetts. He resided in Massachusetts for the first 43 years of his life, but also lived in Rhode
Island, Florida, and Tennessee. Joseph moved to Tennessee in 2022 where he lived with “the twins”,
Jason and Jamie, for the remainder of his life.
Joseph’s career in trucking wasn’t just a job; it was a calling and a source of immense pride. His journey
began when he chose to follow in his father’s footsteps, stepping into the driver’s seat at the same
company where his dad had worked. Over the next 20 years, Joseph built a career he truly cherished.
Whether he was navigating local streets early in his career, enjoying the freedom of over-the-road
trucking, or closing out his journey with dependable daily routes, he loved every mile. He took profound
pride in his trucks and his craftsmanship on the road. More than anything, Joseph’s passion for his work
defined him. Unfortunately, due to his disabling chronic illness, his career was cut short, but his work
ethic lives on in his family.
He is survived by his three children from his marriage to former spouse Anna Hardiman (Josephson);
Jason Hardiman, Jamie Greene, Lisa Cotoia (Justin). God blessed him with another daughter he met later
in life, Renée LaRoche. He is also survived by his fourteen grandchildren: Jason’s daughter’s Heather
(Alex), Tara, Madison and Alyssa; Jamie’s children Joe, Jude, Ezra and Bethany; Lisa’s children Jayden,
Jason, Josiah and Lilliana; Renée’s children Katherine and Juniper. He is also survived by two great
grandchildren: Xavier and Zoey (Heather). He is also survived by his two sisters: Kathy Donnell (and the
late Larry) and Margie Johnson (Tom). He was survived by his niece, Trisha (Rob) and nephew, Billy
(Ashley). He was also survived by his great-nieces, Phoebe (Trisha) and Penelope (Billy).
He was preceded in death by his father William Hardiman and his mother Margaret Hardiman (Clark).
Joseph’s life was radically changed when he met his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This defining moment
entirely altered the trajectory of his legacy. Dedicated wholeheartedly to his faith, Joseph made it his
mission to share the Gospel with everyone he knew. Serving faithfully as a deacon in the church and
eventually stepped into the role of head deacon, where he
passionately taught and mentored others on how to truly serve the church body. Joseph’s ministry
wasn’t confined to the church walls, either; he possessed a rare and genuine heart that truly loved to
give. He readily offered his time, financial support, a helping hand, or an open door to anyone who
needed a place to stay. His example of faith deeply shaped his family’s spiritual journey. Today, his
children are following in his footsteps and proudly continuing his legacy.
The family appreciates your love and support as they grieve together as a family. In place of a public
service, the family invites you to share beloved memories of Joseph with them online.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” ~
2 Corinthians 5:17
